The Pod (Solo)

Raina was typing away at the administration computer filing a health report on the resident seal of the aquarium Spooke when Dr. Grey appeared beside her with a mug of herbal tea.

"Really, Mireille should have had time to accomplish this before her vacation" he snorted disapprovingly. Raina giggled.

"Sure, but was that before or after the kids soccer game, packing up the van, getting the dry cleaning and dropping the dog off at the kennel?" she winked at her boss as she finished the document and hit send. "besides, I'm done everything and staying an extra half hour to do something for someone else isn't the end of the world." she leaned back from the computer and stretched looking at the clock on the wall- 6:30pm

"I suppose, but it's not like you got to have a real vacation either."said Dr. Gray in that observant tone.

Raina shrugged. "It was a great few days till the psycho Che showed up." she beamed a smile at her boss. "Between here and the mansion I've been playing catch up."

"I know. and you're probably going to hate me more... but I have a job for you."said Grey shoveling through some papers as the lights started to click off while the custodians appeared.

"Oh?" Raina looked up "what kind of job?"

"One that requires a bit of travel. I'll be footing the bill on this one, and I wouldn't have any less than you taking Mr. Jacobs with you. After your last bit of traveling and your recent publicity I'd rather not see you alone on a business trip." Raina's curiosity was peaked.

"I've never been on a business trip. Only Luke's, nothing for me. Not even with the x-men!" she exclaimed a little excited. Wherever it was it would be a welcome change from the tank and her office at the mansion.

"I know" He tapped his forhead and Raina giggled.

"well of course." she shrugged. "Where to then? When do you need done?"

"I'm conducting a study about certain marine life and it's come to my attention that there are a group of mutants living out in Australia convinced that they are not only not mutants but a marine creature by nature.

Raina raised an eyebrow "Australia?" she practically screamed. Almost immediately afterward she added " marine animals? What kind? Do they change into seals or something?" Spooke was on her mind these days.

"No Raina, they actually... are just like you." he stared at her waiting for her reaction. Raina's face was blank as she processed the information. "There seems to be a high concentration of your type of mutation in Perth Australia and we're unsure why. It's both of interest to the marine community and the mutant community how these people have completely and fully embraced their mutation to the point in living in delusion that they are not human."

Raina stared a bit and then said "they believe they're actually mer-people?" she cleared her throat "I mean... no x-gene or something?"

"That seems to be the case, and we know that can't be true. The x gene is always responsible for mutations. These people aren't mermaids that suddenly discovered it during the onset of puberty. Mermaids are no more real than Unicorn or Angels."

Raina gave a laugh thinking of Ted the "wherewolf" and CS the virtual "abominable snowman" 'You'd be surprised Dr. Grey." she laughed. "So you want me to go to Australia, with Luke, and gather data on this group of mer... people?"

"They call themselves a pod, like dolphins. But yes that's the jest of it. I have a number of tests I'd like you to perform, nothing invasive and I thought considering your own mutation they'd be likelier to allow you to gather the information than a man of science. In fact. I know that." he tapped his temple again with that omnipresent smile. "So what do you think?"

Raina thought a moment. "It sounds exciting, and just what I need. Of course, I'll have to talk to Luke about it."

"Of course"